UVisa

U-VISA - I-918, Petition for Nonimmigrant Status Certification

Administered by the Department of Homeland Security, a U-Visa allows immigration protection for victims of qualifying crimes and their qualifying family members (as appropriate), who are helpful to law enforcement in the detention, investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. This is a temporary visa that can be valid up to four years, and in some cases may be extended.

U-Visa’s are not automatic, and can only be granted if the appropriate paperwork is sent to Homeland Security via the law enforcement agency where the criminal activity occurred.

If the incident(s) occurred within the jurisdiction of the King County Sheriff’s Office, then applicants submit their completed I-918 documents for certification. The certifying official is Sheriff John Urquhart.

In order to certify a petition, the petitioner should submit evidence, attached to their petition, of their cooperation with law enforcement. Sheriff’s deputies or detectives involved must concur that a U-Visa applicant has both cooperated with law enforcement and will cooperate in any subsequent prosecution before Sheriff Urquhart certifies the application.

Requests should be forwarded to Sara Fitzgibbons, Records Supervisor, for research and processing. The file will then be forwarded to Sheriff Urquhart for final authorization/signature of certification.

The King County Sheriff’s Office is under no legal obligation to sign off on a declaration and may do so at its discretion. Certification does not automatically grant an immigration benefit. Without law enforcement certification, the U-Visa will be denied.